Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

From the dread that knows not rest,
From the fear that torment gives,
I, delivered, in my breast

Love, sweet love, now works and lives;
All the transport, gain is mine,

Jesus, all the glory Thine.

From the effort, sinful, vain,

From the pride and agony,
Life by my own work to gain,

Finding all my life in Thee;
All the light, the gain is mine,
Jesus, all the glory Thine.
Moved by worldly gain no more,
With its jealousy and strife,
Seeking now a lasting store,
Laying hold upon true life;
All the wealth, the gain is mine,
Jesus, all the glory Thine.

Death now brings to me no fear,

And the grave's gloom vanishes, Death now as a friend draws near,

And the grave life's gateway is;
All the hope, the gain is mine,
Jesus, all the glory Thine.

All the joy and all the peace,
All the hope and all the light,
Wealth that never knows decrease,
All the fulness of delight;
Jesus, all by Thee are mine,
But the glory all is Thine.

My Father.

y Father! leaning on Thy breast,

M Mid earthly storms and change,

I find mine everlasting rest,

And would no farther range.

My Father! name of sweetness vast,
All other names above;

No sounding line, by mortals cast,
Can test its depths of love.

E. S. H.

My Father! though by sin defiled,
I make my prayer to Thee;
And Thou wilt bless Thy contrite child,
And white robes give to me.

My Father! through this vale of tears
Thy love shall be my song;
Its softened light shall gild the years,
Its flowers my pathway throng.

My Father with my latest breath
Thy name shall uttered be;
As unto endless life, through death,
I pass Thy face to see!

A. S.

The Two Chaplets.

I

SAW a little maiden;

Her life a golden dream,
With sweetest gladness laden,
And bright as summer's beam:
And round her forehead twining
I saw a chaplet fair;
A rosy wreath, enshrining
A wealth of blossoms fair.

I watched a Christian treading
The narrow path of love;
His heaven-born spirit wedding
Its hopes to bliss above :
And round his spirit twining,
I marked a chaplet bright-
A crown of glory, shining
With everlasting light.

The Christian's wreath was fairer
Than hers, the little child;
Its perfume sweeter, rarer,
Its bloom more undefiled.

The infant's garland faded

Ere morning's smile was o'er :
The Christian's crown, unshaded,
Is fresh for evermore.

A. S.

By Strange Paths.

CHAPTER II.

LEXANDER Survived the dangers of the first cruise, as far as it regarded the yellow fever, but not so the perils of the seas. Returning from this first

voyage, the vessel was wrecked off Madeira, and all were lost, save some five or six of the company, including Alexander, and the captain of the ship. A homewardbound vessel picked them up, and brought them back to port.

After remaining here some little time, Alexander again set sail with his former captain, in a new vessel, for the African coast. They succeeded in landing safely, but the fatal yellow fever laid hold of the crew, almost immediately upon their landing, and the captain and first mate were among the first to succumb to it. Alexander also took it, and was brought very low, so near the gates of death, indeed, that once or twice he was left for dead. But he rallied, and was spared to return home, although much emaciated, and subject to fits, from the ravages of the fearful fever. He was brought home, almost as useless as a log of wood, and thrown on shore, unfitted for any employment. Not a friend interested himself about the poor prodigal, and had not a humane pilot conveyed the sufferer to the "Seamen's Home," he might have perished in his misery. But God had been watching him, all through these long years of hardened sin and defiant wickedness, with purposes of love.

A long affliction was his portion, wearisome days and nights were appointed to him, and when, after many months, he left the "Seamen's Home," and travelled northward, it was with scarcely any definite purpose. He had refrained from acquainting his sisters with his circumstances, for during his last voyage his father had died; and now it seemed to have become his settled determination to separate himself from all who were in any way related to him.

With only a few poor rags on his back-and those

bestowed by the hand of charity-he wandered into the north of England, trusting to find some employment suited to his diminished strength. Providence guided his footsteps, for within a fortnight he obtained work in the lamp-office of a coal-mine, under an old man, who, to his capacity and business qualifications for the office of a foreman, added the ornament of a sterling Christian character. Not content with merely giving the stricken, afflicted wanderer employment, the tender-hearted old foreman took Alexander into his own house, and sheltered him under his own roof. His wife was a praying woman, and was in no way chary of administering rebuke, while she ministered to the wants of the repentant prodigal.

At the first, Alexander was given to understand plainly that his home and employment depended upon his conduct; that unless he left off drink, evil company, and restless habits, he would be turned out in the world again. But the poor fellow was almost tamed by the breaking down of his physical strength. He no longer possessed the giant muscles of old, neither could he perform the feats of activity upon which he used to pride himself. Consequently, the tender, motherly, thoughtful care of the old lady was like a God-sent blessing, and had not a little to do with alluring the prodigal into better ways. His daily work was somewhat distasteful to him, it is true, but it served to keep the grim wolf of starvation from the door, and afforded him the only possible outlook towards sobriety and respectability. So he strove to do his best, and to make his best of the shattered remnant of his life. But God still was watching him; blessings were waiting for him, of which he did not dream.

As, one Sabbath evening, Alexander strolled aimlessly through the mining village, he was attracted by the sound of singing, proceeding from a building which was evidently a place of worship. Drawn by curiosity, he stepped in and took a seat near the entrance, intending to listen to the worship unobserved, and to slip out again when the service

should approach its close. As he sat in his quiet corner, his thoughts travelled back to the time when last, as an innocent child, he had gone with his friends to the sanctuary of God. Pondering thus, softened feelings took possession of his soul; gradually he came back to the present, heard the voice of the preacher, listened to the tender invitations given to "come to the Saviour," to "give up sin,"-to "find rest in Him." These invitations seemed specially intended for himself-they just met his case, and he listened with astonished eagerness. At the close of the sermon, the preacher requested any who were feeling sorrow on account of sin to remain behind for private conversation and prayer ; and, in spite of his former resolution to leave the building before the service had concluded, Alexander now felt impelled to remain. The arrows of conviction had pierced his soul, and he longed to hear how he could be saved. He felt himself a sinner, and now he knew that he wanted a Saviour. "The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost," was the passage that was specially blessed to him that night; it spoke peace to him, and assured him that though lost, in almost every sense of the word, Christ Jesus could find and save him! After some time spent in earnest prayer and supplication, the blessing came; and Alexander Lloyd stepped out of the sanctuary into the frosty air of that January night "the Lord's free man." Surely there was rejoicing in the courts of heaven, among the angels, as they surveyed the scene!

This was the beginning of a new life indeed to the young Christian. As time rolled on, he gradually regained his health, and felt equal to more arduous duties. Through the influence of his good old friend, he exchanged his post of lamp-cleaner for that of engineer-a much more respectable and better-paid position-and here he was able to save a little money. Very bright was that New Year to Alexander, for in every way he tried to serve his Redeemer's cause by active labour, counting no toil too severe, that he might manifest his gratitude. He soon took charge of a class in

« AnteriorContinuar »